Habit Burger & Grill — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

That Triple Char Cheese Burger with Bacon AND Avocado in my eyes gives any Burger Joint a heck of a run for their Money. That burger was over the top delicious. There was just something about this Triple Char Cheese Burger that's on point. It very well could be the Char! I am a Burger connoisseur of the sorts and Believe me when I say that if there is a chance that I hear about a Burger spot that I have not been to, best believe if I am in a 15 mile radius I will make that journey. I enjoy a good burger probably more than the next person. The Habit should change their Name to "The Addiction" I really wanted to go back and get another right after I was done. I pulled up and walked in the front door and could smell the Char as if I had been cooking it myself at home. The ease of ordering my meal was simply the easiest process I have had at a Burger Establishment. looked around and thought to myself again.. Gosh should I Touch the screen or walk up to the counter just to stand in line, so I walkedvup and touch the digital display and pick my burger with all of the bells and whistles the options are endless. I thought to myself, and said out loud , "Why doesn't every restaurant on the planet give us the same set up to order and customize your meal". They also give you a choice to dine in or take out . I took it with me and was a little disappointed I'm myself for not dining in because if I had done so I would have definitely ordered another to go with me. They even send you a text message to inform you when your Meal is ready along with an itemized Receipt. I will say that I could have just as well ordered at the counter but this technology was and the images they show you literal made my mouth water.. Once my phone was alerted me I walked up to the counter and without hesitation the associate handed me my meal as she smiled and Told me to Enjoy. I low key was excited because I felt as if I was in Burger Heaven. The French fries were cooked to perfection as well as the Crispy Onion rings which I also ordered. It only seen 5 minutes later my meal was ready for pick up as soon as my phone received it's very first notification from the habit. At that Time I knew it was CHAR TIME. If you like Burgers as much as I do, I do suggest taking a trip to your nearest Habit and snatching yourself he opportunity to sink your teeth into such a...

2011 was the year of the burger, 2012 was the year of the pizza so Habit is a little late to the game with so many really good places around. You really have to look at what they do different and what they do better, what's is their draw over more specialized or popular places?

I wasn't surprised that my two experiences here weren't amazing and it wasn't that I didn't give them a fair chance, but fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you. Somewhere between fast food and gourmet, it's a bit of both, like good burgers at a restaurant they do build them well and with good ingredients. The comparison to In N Out is immediate, but the biggest difference is INO is still fast food, just really good, fresh fast food. Habit is a restaurant and not subject to the same experience or standards in my opinion. The service is excellent, attentive and not overwhelming. The menu outdoes any fast food by offering a much wider variety of options, but INO does a few things and does them well. That's where my comparison to INO will end. I get how we all want a burger to be a burger and we all have our favorites, but lets compare apples to apples.

The beef patty is well charred and juicy, 80/20 sounds right, not sure if they use Angus as that's in thing now. Cheese is well melted and gooey all over. Lettuce was more on the large scale by amount and small on the leafing, buns are toasted so as to differentiate in texture from the softer outside. As far as ingredients and sides you have a plethora so my combination is less important (pastrami is a must) I get that anywhere it's available because I think it compliments beef...

Easily the worst experience I've had at a Habit. Walked in, no one at the register, no one to greet me, so OK, I'll use the clunky kiosk and place my order there. Kiosk tells me to go to the counter for my drink cups. No one seems interested in acknowledging my presence, so I go and sit down. SMS confirmation also tells me to get drink cups from the front counter. So I go to the front counter, and ask the nearest staff member for my cups. Rather than just pulling them off the stack right there at the counter, he says "just a minute", then disappears into the back and doesn't come back. So I figure I'll contain my thirst until I get the food. Food comes out, staff member 2 simply hands me the tray, with no sign of the drinks. I say what about the drinks. He asks how many, I say two, and he hands me the cups. I mention that I had already asked his colleague for the cups and didn't get them. I don't get an apology or any sort of acknowledgement, but I do get a bit of eyeroll as he walks away. The burger wasn't horrible, but wasn't up to the usual Habit standard. I had the impression that the patties had sat on the grill for some time as they dried out, waiting for an order to come along. The cheese was not at all melted as I normally get from my double char. At least the fries weren't bad, maybe just a little oversalted. Not at all up to the standard I have been accustomed to. I've tried to remain faithful to my Habit habit in spite of the price increases, but perhaps it's time to go for the alternative, where I can get something animal style with better service, a lower price and the...